Save Your Sight: Five Tips to Alleviate Computer Vision Syndrome

Ever experience headaches, blurry vision, dry eyes, or neck pain after an especially long day at the office?

You could be showing symptoms of computer vision syndrome, which can affect people who use computer screens for too long.

The symptoms can fade away if you take a prolonged computer break. However, with the average American spending 9.9 hours a day staring at a computer, smartphone, or TV screen, taking that break is easier said than done.

Here are five tips for relieving computer vision syndrome:

1. Fight the glare: One main trigger of computer vision syndrome is glare from the screen—it makes it more difficult to read so your eyes have to work harder. Talk to your office manager or IT professional about obtaining a glare protector.

4. Install a blue light filter on your Android: Blue light emitted from screens not only makes your eyes work harder; it also disrupts your Circadian rhythms and can cause sleep issues. There are apps that filter out the blue light from Android screens (sorry, iPhone users) to buy your eyes at least a little down time.

5. Set a timer for breaks: Stepping away from the screen all together can also help alleviate the symptoms of computer vision syndrome. Use a productivity tracking app to schedule breaks, or simply set a timer for every 20 minutes. During your break, don’t check your phone.